The impact of the benznidazole and spironolactone combination in the evolution of the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, was the cause of 4,916 deaths in 2005 in Brazil, underscoring the importance of searching for new forms of treatment for these patients. Previous studies have shown that mice infected with T. cruzi present marked renal injury in the early stages of infection. Furthermore, the blockade of the cardiovascular and renal pathways (such as RAAS) reduced the mortality of the animals by 40%. Recently, it was observed that blocking aldosterone minimizes the loss of potassium and the cardiovascular effects of the infection with T. cruzi. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the association between Bz and Sp on the physical condition of the infected mice. Comparing mice infected and treated with Bz / Sp, we observed that the association promoted a 100% survival, weight gain, maintenance of food intake and physical activity of animals.
Furthermore, the treatment corresponding to Bz only kept high levels of motor and exploratory activity, especially in the 15th dpi. Thus, we concluded that the association between Bz and Sp has a beneficial influence on the physical condition of mice during the acute phase trial.